Page 10 of Ascension of the Pack

‘Did I forget someone’s anniversary? I’ve forgottensomething, I know I have. Your mother is pissed off at me. She’s trying to let it go, but she hasn’t quite managed and she won’t tell me what I did wrong.’

‘You didn’t do anything wrong,’ I said softly. I couldn’t deal with this now. ‘I’m sorry Dad, I have to go.’

‘Oh. Okay, Lucy Caboosy.’ His disappointment was palpable and it cut me. ‘We’re okay though, right?’

I closed my eyes. ‘Always.’ I hung up and ran to Greg for a cuddle. The scent of him settled around me, though it wasn’t its usual toe-curling goodness thanks to the added stench of acrid smoke, blood and sweat. It reminded me that I had far more to focus on than a bit of family drama. The stuff with Dad would have to wait.

‘Is everyone okay?’ I asked.

‘All our wolves are fine,’ Greg reassured me. ‘There was nothing a shift couldn’t heal.’

‘And their wolves?’

‘The same,’ he confirmed. ‘We arrived before things really heated up. Archie did the right thing in calling us.’

‘Yeah, but he’s sad about it.’

‘Calling you?’

‘Not that, about not being the one to kill Rain.’

‘Ah. Understandable.’

‘It is. I honestly didn’t even think about letting him have the blow and I should have.’

Greg shook his head. ‘You did what was necessary. Don’t lose sleep over shoulda, woulda, coulda.’

‘I killed Rain,’ I said suddenly, licking my lips.

‘I know. Isaw you.’

‘No.Ikilled him. Not Esme, me.Idid it. I wanted to, I wanted to kill him, Greg. I’m scared,’ I admitted. ‘I’m scared I’m losing myself.’

‘You’re not, Peaches,’ he assured me. He lifted me up and carried me over to the mahogany desk. ‘You’re doing so well. You’re such a strong leader, with compassion in your heart and strength in your spine. I am so proud of you, every inch of you.’

He lowered his lips to mine and I suddenly didn’t care about the smoke or the stale sweat on his skin; I didn’t care about anything. We’d had a really long day; my best friendwasn’tmarried and I was alpha of yet another pack. And I had another death on my conscience.

I pushed it all away forcefully and focused instead of the sensation of Greg’s tongue against mine. I tugged up his T-shirt so that I could feel his glorious washboard abs, the warmth of his skin against mine and the thunder of his heart. Miraculously, we were both alive.

‘Oh God, Lucy,’ he groaned as his body ground against mine. ‘Spreadsheets.’ He murmured as he kissed my neck. ‘Numbers. Statistics.’

‘What are you doing?’ I panted.

‘I’m talkingdirty to you.’

A strangled laugh slipped out of my throat. ‘God, I love you. But sometimes I like the actual dirty talk,’ I admitted.

He leaned down and his hot breath teased the shell of my ear as he told me what he wanted to do to me.

And I let him do exactly that.

Chapter 7

It was novel to wake slowly. I stretched and reached out to Greg, but he was gone and the sheets were cold. He wasn’t a man who lounged around in bed; he got up with the sunrise and worked until well after it had set. Work to him was more than a job, it was what defined him. Right now, he was second to the Queen, and one day soon he’d be the mate to the Queen.Lucky me, I cooed smugly.

I stretched deliciously sore muscles and tried to think about what I needed to prioritise.

Let’s get clean first,Esme suggested. I stifled a smile. Showers were always Esme’s priority.Rightly so,she huffed playfully.

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